Chilliwack – Dr. Nilsana Charkhandeh, PsyD, RCC is a 2026 Candidate for Chilliwack City Council. Her Platform: Listening • Caring • Taking Action.
Municipal Elections are October 17.
My Story — Dr. Nilsana Charkhandeh, PsyD, RCC
I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, where my journey in psychology and community
service began. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Clinical
Psychology, developing a strong interest in understanding human behaviour, mental
health, families, and the challenges people experience throughout their lives. I later
continued my education in Malaysia, where I earned my doctoral degree in Child
Development Psychology, expanding my knowledge of children, families, and human
development.
In 2010, I moved to Canada to begin a new chapter in both my personal and
professional life. Like many newcomers, I experienced the process of adapting to a new
country, culture, and professional environment while rebuilding my life and career. After
having my international education recognized through the University of Toronto, I
began developing my professional practice in Toronto.
During my years in Ontario, I worked for approximately three years in a correctional
setting. Working with individuals facing complex life circumstances gave me valuable
experience in understanding trauma, crisis, mental-health challenges, rehabilitation,
and the social factors that can affect people’s lives. It also strengthened my belief
that prevention and early support can make an important difference before problems
develop into more serious crises.
I later decided to make British Columbia my home and continued my career as a
mental-health professional. Today, I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). My
clinical work focuses on trauma recovery, crisis support, anxiety, depression,
family and relationship concerns, and the well-being of children and youth.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to support people from many
different cultural, ethnic, social, and socioeconomic backgrounds. My professional
experience has included supporting clients and families connected with RCMP Victim
Services, Primary Care Networks, TELUS Health programs, Indigenous and First
Nations organizations, and family and child support services. Working across
different community systems has taught me the importance of collaboration,
accessibility, cultural understanding, early intervention, and ensuring that people know
where to find support when they need it.
My own immigrant journey has also shaped the way I see community. I understand
some of the challenges involved in starting over, adapting to a different culture,
establishing a career, raising a family, and developing a sense of belonging in a
new country. I value Chilliwack’s cultural diversity and believe people from different
backgrounds, generations, abilities, and life experiences should have meaningful
opportunities to participate in community life.
Outside of my professional work, I enjoy spending time in nature and the mountains,
swimming, painting, and creating collage art. Living in British Columbia has
deepened my appreciation for our natural environment. I believe our mountains, rivers,
farmland, trees, and green spaces are part of what makes Chilliwack special and should
be valued as our community continues to grow.
Why I Decided to Run for Chilliwack City Council
My decision to run for Chilliwack City Council grew naturally from my years of
listening to individuals and families through my professional work.
For many years, people have shared with me their experiences with family pressures,
mental-health challenges, social isolation, financial stress, concerns about their
children and youth, addiction, safety, aging, disability, and difficulties finding the
right services and support. These conversations have helped me understand how
decisions made within a community can affect people’s everyday lives.
I do not believe every challenge can be solved by municipal government, and many
important responsibilities belong to provincial or federal governments and other
organizations. However, I believe the City can play an important role in listening to
residents, bringing organizations together, supporting prevention, planning
responsibly, advocating for community needs, and helping create opportunities
for people to participate in community life.
I want to bring the concerns and perspectives I have heard in our community into
broader conversations at City Hall, while respecting the confidentiality and privacy of
every person I have worked with. I want to listen not only as a mental-health
professional, but also to residents, businesses, seniors, young people, families,
newcomers, Indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and others whose
experiences can help us understand what Chilliwack needs for its future.
My approach is strongly focused on prevention. I believe we should ask what we can
do before a young person becomes disconnected, before a family reaches crisis, before
social isolation becomes severe, and before community problems become more difficult
and expensive to address.
For many years, my role has been to listen. Running for Council is an opportunity for
me to continue listening in a different way—to bring community concerns forward, work
collaboratively with others, and look for practical solutions that can help build a safer,
healthier, more connected, and stronger Chilliwack for future generations.
(604) 500-3443
dr.nilsana@canadapsychotherapy.com
